Fed rate hike remains uncertain after Harvey, Irma

Two hurricanes slammed into the United States within two weeks, taking a bite out of economic growth, and adding to doubts about the

potential for a third interest rate hike this year. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to leave interest rates untouched after the two-day policy meeting this week, but economists are split on whether the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma will create enough uncertainty to delay the next tightening move until 2018.

After inflation at long last posted a sizeable uptick in August, markets saw an increased probability of a move in December that would push rates up a notch from the current range of 1.0-1.25 percent.